4 Intriguing storylines surrounding Philadelphia Eagles rookie Nakobe Dean

1. The Eagles wouldn’t give Nakobe Dean a redshirt, would they?

Much has been made about the 2022-2023 season being one in which Eagles fans can rejoice over the fact that this might be one of the deepest linebacker corps this team has ever had. Dare we say this team might carry seven players at the position?

Look at this list of names: T.J. Edwards, Kyzir White, Shaun Bradley, Davion Taylor, Kyron Johnson, Haason Reddick, and Dean. You can’t cut any of those guys, can you?

Here’s where we can agree. With all of that talent, Dean doesn’t have to endure any pressure early, but giving him what equates to an NFL redshirt seems unlikely though, right? Zander Krause doesn’t think so.

We’ll disagree slightly. While there’s no pressure on Dean to explode early, Jonathan Gannon and company have to figure out a way to get him involved on defense.

2. John McMullen’s NFL comp for Nakobe Dean is Roquan Smith.

A former first-rounder, since entering the league in 2018, linebacker Roquan Smith has already added two Second-Team All-Pro nods to his professional resume (2020, 2021). ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently ranked him fifth on his list of the NFL’s top ten off-ball linebackers. Any team will be lucky to have him. Eagles Insider John McMullen believes the Birds already have the next incarnation.

Take a look.

https://twitter.com/JAKIBSports/status/1555592728741806081

We repeat. Anyone with that type of potential has to be deployed in some manner by this Eagles defense. We can’t wait to see what the Birds come up with!